So do I go for a childminder or nursery???? am so torn

just wanted to add a note to the pro childminder replies which is to think about how your child would fare at nursery if feeling abit under the weather. My (3yo) mindee today has a bit of a temperature, runny nose etc and more than anything else just wants to sit cuddled up on the sofa watching cbeebies (mum suggested this). I don't know that at a nursery this would possible.

i have an excellent nursery (nursary )
turn up all times of day unannounced
i've never seen anything, ever, i would be worried about.
and yes, the staff do also have their children there.
my dcs have excellent relationships with the staff - cared for each day by the same 2 or 3 girls, who i also use for babysitting.

Being a member of the NCMA means that I have paid them some money to join. It doesn't do any kind of checks on childminders. It means that I can buy NCMA paperwork (contracts etc.) cheaper than if I didn't join, have access to legal help if needed and so on. It certainly does not mean that I am, somehow, a "better" childminder.

Being a network childminder means that I am on a quality assured scheme. This entails more frequent visits by a co-ordinator. I have to agree to do a minimum amount of training. This also does not mean that I am a "better" childminder, but I certainly use it as a plus-point if trying to sell myself to a new potential client.

Again, I get cross with Ofsted's grading system. I think many parents think that being graded as "outstanding" automatically means that a minder is a brilliant childcarer, and that a "satisfactory" childminder therefore is not quite as good. I know some fabulous, caring "satisfactory" childminders (who don't have a good stack of paperwork). And I know some "outstanding" childminders who are not the earth mothers which parents may think they are.

Parents should visit childminders and nurseries, and go with their gut instincts and also ask to speak to other parents (who use or have used that nursery or childminder). Please don't rely on paperwork and official blurb issued by the nursery/childminder.

taylormama, just to clarify that i did state that "im sure there are a lot of terrible cms out there too" so i wasnt being totally one sided!
i was shocked,disturbed and appaled at the type of "care" i witnessed at 4 different nurserys which is why I would never ever reccomend a nursery.
thats my view and that will never change!

smee - of course i would find what you mention disturbing - who wouldn't - my point was that there was so much anti-nursery feeling that this thread was in danger of becoming very one-sided. Yes that incident may have happened in a nursery but it doesn't mean it happens in all of them ... if you also read my comment i think i said to do your research well whether you choose a childminder or a nursery ... childcare is obviously an issue which rouses strong feelings but to tar all nursery care with the same brush seems unfair to the very good nurseries which are out there ...

IMO being a network CM is no proof at all of how kind they are to their charges - I have seen some of them be quite mean and strict with the children in ways that I would never be, but they are good at doing all the forms and complying with every regulation going.

I am not a network CM, and nor are some of the best CMs in my area. I currently look a quite young baby (as well as other mindees) and I never let him cry for more than a moment - I spend a lot of time walking around with him, singing, rocking, dirty nappies are changed straight away, he gets the sleep he needs, he gets to play with his siblings and other children. I wonder if a nursery could match this?

haily111 no offence taken...

at childminder getting a german shepheard if she had just got it how could she possibly know that it was ok with children?

I LOVE dog btw!

sorry taylormama how is using the word "disturbing" not balanced?
had you have witnessed a small baby having its hands tied behind its back with sellotape by the assistant manager of a nursery would you not find that disturbing then?

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Oh, never knew that, and funnily enough, thats the bit I like about it the most. Oh well you live & learn

Yes, being on the network means that I have 6weekly checks but I am NOT member of the NCMA and don't have to be to be on the network.
Anyone can pay their membership fee and be a 'member' of the NCMA, but simply being a member of the NCMA does not mean you are on a network.

I didn't mean to offend you NannyL, as said i just thought it sounded pretty harsh, might just be the way i take things.
It wasn't easy choosing childcare for my dd. She was with a childminder to start with, but she then decided to get a german shepherd. This was after Ofsted had visited her. I know she will probably now get investigated for this, and i know i might be hypocrytical as i have a dog myself. But come on a german shepherd??
So i decided to look at my local nursery. It is brand new and the staff there are lovely. I also think though that some CM's might be doing the same awful things that Smeeinit said some Nurserys do, but in a nursery surely there are more people witnessing it?
As said before i don't mean to offend anyone. I just think it is sad as this thread seemed very one sided.
I agree NannyL it is our opinions, and i do like to hear what other people have to say as well.
Thank you as well Smeeinit, i have been dropping round the nursery unannounced. So far so good! :-)

Gooseegg, aren't the checks done 6 weekly though whereas Ofstead only check once a year. Surely there is a bit more control with that.

Thanks Shosha. I don't think I would use one that wasn't NCMA anymore. Once again, I am not saying that people not in it are rubbish. In fact in some places it doesn't exist. Just that if I were going to use a CM, they would have to be part of this for me

I am on an NCMA quality assured network but am not a member of the NCMA.
It is a false quality reassurance to rely simply on childminders being members of the NCMA.
The only thing that sets members apart from non members is the membership fee - which I guess could be considered money well spent if it makes parents think you're better than you are.

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Oh also, yes there are some childminders who i wouldnt even dream of leaving my baby with, and in my time i have even met 1 nanny who i wouldnt want to look after my own baby!

thanks smeetinit...

sorry if my comment was "unhelpful" or "inducing guilt" or whatver else (orginal question was should i use nursary or childmineder and i was helpfully adding that in my opinion a childminder is a much better option)... my comment was indeed honest and i maintain that not 1 single person who i know who has worked in a nursary... or currently works in a nursary (or is just a nanny) (even a very good friend who works in one of our local tiny / caring / 1st choice with parents / long waiting list type nursary) would ever send their baby to any nursary...

thats a fact... thats how it is... and that is the opinion of at least 15+ child caresrs who i know personaly and we each have our individual opinions about things. Have had lots of converstaions over time and not one of us has said they would send our baby there

i have never even worked in a nursary(and nor would I) (only ever done nannying.... after i graduated from uni) but i have seen disturbing things when picking up children from several different nursarys to make me vow to myself that i will never ever send my own baby to one.

Of course if you are a mum and really think you have found a lovely / perfect nursary for your baby and you are happy with that than thats fine for you..... would be interesting to know how many of the staff there would (honestly) send there own babies there!... and ofcourse what they tell the mums may be different to what thy tell their friends with no children!

Shosha, I found the whole 'NCMA' thing very reassuring when looking for a CM. As you are a childminder, would you say that belonging to it definitely is a plus for parents looking or not. I also liked the idea that all of the CMs knew each other through this so if one was a 'bit rubbish', they would be outted etc IYKWIM

I would choose a decent nursery over a childminder anyway. I would make a point of investigatingi t as thoroughly as possible and dropping in unannounced as often as possible to try and make sure that the children were being properly cared for - but on balance, given the pros and cons of each I would vastly prefer a decent well-run nursery to a childminder.

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there seems to be a lot of nursery bashing going on here - using words like "disturbing" is not balanced and instills more feelings of guilt and upset in those of use who have chosen to send our children to one.
Everyone is of course entitled to their opinion but i have to re-iterate i think the nursery my son goes to is excellent, low staff turnover, and i turn up at different times everyday and i have NEVER seen anything that i would be worried about.

Yes there are poor nurseries but but i am also sure there are some CMs i wouldn't be happy leaving my son with - i think at the end of the day do your research & speak to other parents and look at OFSTED reports - yes turn up at the nursery unannounced, ask questions etc ...

Some more information on NCMA here

here

My first CM's were not registered with the NCMA. They said they were but were lying. I was lucky that a friend knew the coordinator and checked for me.